Normative Minor Childhood Stress and Risk of Later Adult Psychopathology in Saudi Arabia
Michael E. Hyland, Ahmed M. Alkhalaf, Ben Whalley
International Neuropsychiatric Disease Journal · pp. 94–103 · Published 13 Jan 2014
10.9734/INDJ/2014/7997Abstract
Chronic minor childhood stress in the form of corporal punishment predicts adult psychopathology in the United States but has not been demonstrated in a country where corporal punishment is normative. We tested whether adult psychopathology was predicted by recalled frequency of childhood corporal punishment and recalled controllability of punishment in Saudi Arabia. Two hundred and fifty nine Saudi men with substance addictions (who for cultural reasons were at risk for depression) completed a survey measuring: demographic variables, frequency of beating and controllability of punishment as a child, depression and borderline personality disorder symptoms (BPD). Beating frequency and punishment control were uncorrelated and unrelated to patients’ or parents’ education. 92 men (36%) had major depression (PHQ-9 ≥15). Compared to those never beaten, those experiencing infrequent beating (once or twice a year) were significantly more likely to have major depression and higher BPD symptoms, after controlling for demographic variables. Those experiencing frequent beating (monthly or more frequent) were more likely to have major depression and higher BDP symptoms compared to those never beaten, but only when perceived control was low. Perceived punishment control was not significantly related to outcome for those who never had or had infrequent corporal punishment. These results provide evidence in a culture where corporal punishment is normative that corporal punishment, even when infrequent, predisposes to adult psychopathology and that uncontrollability increases the pathogenic effect of frequent corporal punishment. These results support the hypothesis that frequent minor stressors in childhood act as kindling factor for later depression.
References (36)
- 1 Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. [DOI]
- 2 Self-discrepancy: A theory relating self and affect. [DOI]
- 3 Helplessness: On Depression, Development, and Death
- 4 The Patient Health Questionnaire Somatic, Anxiety, and Depressive Symptom Scales: a systematic review [DOI]
- 5 Corporal punishment by parents and associated child behaviors and experiences: A meta-analytic and theoretical review. [DOI]
- 6 The HPA axis in major depression: classical theories and new developments [DOI]
- 7 Stress, Depression, and Neuroplasticity: A Convergence of Mechanisms [DOI]
- 8 Psychological stress in childhood and susceptibility to the chronic diseases of aging: Moving toward a model of behavioral and biological mechanisms. [DOI]
- 9 Violence and risk of PTSD, major depression, substance abuse/dependence, and comorbidity: Results from the National Survey of Adolescents. [DOI]
- 10 User's guide for the structured clinical interview for DSM-IV axis II personality disorders : SCID-II
- 11 Psychiatric and Substance Use Comorbidity Among Treatment-Seeking Opioid Abusers [DOI]
- 12 Life Stress, the "Kindling" Hypothesis, and the Recurrence of Depression: Considerations From a Life Stress Perspective. [DOI]
- 13 Depressive disorders and immunity: 20 years of progress and discovery [DOI]
- 14 Stress generation in depression: A systematic review of the empirical literature and recommendations for future study [DOI]
- 15 Borderline personality disorder and substance use disorders A review and integration [DOI]
- 16 Parent Discipline Practices in an International Sample: Associations With Child Behaviors and Moderation by Perceived Normativeness [DOI]
- 17 Ethnic differences in the link between physical discipline and later adolescent externalizing behaviors [DOI]
- 18 Aversive Parenting in China: Associations With Child Physical and Relational Aggression [DOI]
- 19 The relationship between child abuse, parental divorce, and lifetime mental disorders and suicidality in a nationally representative adult sample [DOI]
- 20 Ordinary physical punishment: Is it harmful? Comment on Gershoff (2002). [DOI]
- 21 Physical punishment, childhood abuse and psychiatric disorders [DOI]
- 22 Parenting Styles in Arab Societies [DOI]
- 23 Childhood Stress, Serotonin Transporter Gene and Brain Structures in Major Depression [DOI]
- 24 Parenting Styles, Individuation, and Mental Health of Arab Adolescents [DOI]
- 25 Bans against corporal punishment: a systematic review of the laws, changes in attitudes and behaviours [DOI]
- 26 Corporal Punishment and the Growth Trajectory of Children’s Antisocial Behavior [DOI]
- 27 Understanding caregivers’ attitudes towards physical punishment of children: Evidence from 34 low- and middle-income countries [DOI]
- 28 Spanking in Early Childhood and Later Behavior Problems: A Prospective Study of Infants and Young Toddlers [DOI]
- 29 Severe and nonsevere events in first onsets versus recurrences of depression: Evidence for stress sensitization. [DOI]
- 30 Beating and insulting children as a risk for adult cancer, cardiac disease and asthma [DOI]
- 31 Do nonphysical punishments reduce antisocial behavior more than spanking? a comparison using the strongest previous causal evidence against spanking [DOI]
- 32 The Cultural Context of Physically Disciplining Children.
- 33 Learned helplessness, depression, and the illusion of control. [DOI]
- 34 Sex differences in the association between childhood experiences and adult depression [DOI]
- 35 Physical punishment of children: Can we continue to accept the status quo? [DOI]
- 36 The culture and customs of Saudi Arabia [DOI]
Cited by 0
No indexed citations yet.
Related research
- Case of an Adult with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: The Course of Treatment for Improvement in Processing Speed — shares topic coverage
- The Prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in a Private-University in Malaysia, and Its Associated Factors Including Stress, Depression and Anxiety — shares topic coverage
- Early Impact of Lockdown on Daily Activity Behaviors and Sleep Pattern in Small Indian Population — shares topic coverage
- Prevalence and Comorbidity of Depression and Anxiety among Medical Students in Babcock University, Ogun State, Nigeria — shares topic coverage
- Psychological Wellbeing of Healthcare Workers in Different Hospitals of Karachi (Pakistan) During COVID-19 Pandemic — shares topic coverage
Article metrics
Real usage data collected on this platform.
22
Page views
0
PDF downloads
2
Outbound clicks
0
Citations
Views over time
Views by country
Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".
Traffic sources
Referring site, by host.
Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.